Hawkwind – live at the Royal Albert Hall – DeLuxe boxset

What does it sound like?:

If you know Hawkwind, you already know what this sounds like; riffs, spacey wooshes, proto-punk/ metal/ rave riffs with space and fantasy-themed lyrics, declamatory vocals. Over the years, Hawkwind have become ever-tighter, which, like “The Fall”, is a reflection of discipline, not repetition (along with less jollop before the show, [possibly]). Wikipedia indicates this is Hawkwind’s 28th live album. A lot of them will have been much the same as my description. Whether you think this is excessive, is up to you. I couldn’t possibly comment. I certainly don’t have all of them, but there will be some proud TRUE FANS out there who do. Sir, we salute you.

I love the band, their attitude, and their fans, and their conscious and their shameless indifference to fashion or style, though, like many fans, I have a favourite era, personally missing Robert Calvert as Biggles in space. This 2023 gig was promoted as the 50th anniversary of “Space Ritual” – itself a live album, and definitive of the band. But 2023 concert here was not a full “Space Ritual” anniversary show – which occurred in 2014, and was later, yes, a live album. (Do keep up.) Whatever, the current recording is a great souvenir of the concert and the slick recent line-up; with special guest stars in Arthur Brown on occasional vocals, and, at points, William Orbit on keyboards: lots of interesting people have a Hawkwind connection. WO makes his contribution then slips off, rather than over-staying his welcome – but DikMik, he is not, and I for one would have welcomed more oscilloscope trills and VCS3 oddness.

With over 50 years of history not all your favourites will be here, but they do their best to get a quart into a pint pot. The booklet is informative and charming. I will post a YouTube recording of the actual show, which looked great, even if AtomHenge is now sadly gone.

What does it all *mean*?

Hawkwind will not be forever – Dave Brock is the last of the original line up, and now in his early 80s. Tempus fugit, even with the preservative qualities of clean living and veganism. Smoke, whether inhaled or on stage, obviously hasn’t harmed him as much as some folk. The band has had dozens of members, and the audiences remain passionate and a real community of like-minded folk, themselves increasingly sober and venerable (though their disputes about seated versus standing gigs in some fans indicate that some are definitely not going gracefully into that good night for a comfortable seat in a theatre venue).

The thing I miss about this era of Hawkwind is the they are less dark and dangerous than they once seemed when their strobes could bring on epilepsy, the often odd Nik Turner enthralled and irritated, Robert Calvert was unhinged, Harvey Bainbridge sounding like Davros, there were fans with 1000-yard stares from who knows what lifestyle choices, and there was the sad the possibility that someone on a microdot that night might have “a bummer” (no trivial thing if they failed to return from the 10th second of forever, and be thereafter vulnerable to psychosis). But danger is over-rated, and space travel may yet become as routine as any other form of transport. After all, there is no longer anything to worry about in relation to technology, is there? IS THERE?

Goes well with…

Well, at one time, grass, “Leb” cider, mushrooms, or maybe even Julie’s finest. But now – at least for me, a cup of builder’s tea, a few small slices of Comte, some fresh walnuts, and a satsuma.

Release Date:

Out now, pop-pickers

Might suit people who like…

Hawkwind, Gong, Acid Mothers Temple, Henge, Tangerine Dream, Steve Hillage, Ozric Tentacles

8